Australian Open recap: Andy Murray races through to second round with comfortable win against Go Soeda in Melbourne heat

The British No.1 was in very good form as he motored through the first round against the world No. 112. See how he did it here

Good morning to you all and welcome to Mirror Sport's coverage of Andy Murray at the Australian Open.

It's bright and early in London, dark and a little on the chilly side.

But it's the complete opposite in Melbourne, where the evening session of tennis is about to begin.

Bright sunshine, searing temperatures and a wonderful few hours of tennis ahead.

Whether you're beginning your commute or sitting at home, keep up to date with the latest from Murray versus Go Soeda here.

6:03 am

Neil McLeman

And trying to keep cool in Melbourne is our tennis correspondent Neil McLeman, who will be keeping us up to date with the action court side.

Here's his first update:

It is so hot at the Australian Open today that Canadian Frank Dancevic fainted on court, Peng Shuai of China vomited and two ball boys have been carried off. Radek Stepanek also retired because of the scorching sun. Soon it will be time for Andy Murray to handle the heat in the Hisense Arena.

Temperatures are topping 40 degrees celsius - and it is even hotter on court. The start will not be at 6pm as the preceding match on the second showcourt between Agnieszka Radwanska and Yulia Putintseva has gone into a third set.

Even before going on court Murray has received a boost as John Isner, his seeded fourth round opponent, has retired with an ankle injury.

But the American giant is still determined to face the Scot in the Davis Cup tie against Great Britain at the start of February.

"I feel like I will get over (this injury). It doesn't concern me as much as some knee issues I've had in the past," he said. "I fully intend to get ready for Davis Cup."

6:14 am

Ben Curtis

It's been a busy few months for Murray, who has undergone - and recovered from - back surgery before beginning the long road back to fitness.

The television graphic says the forecast is HOT, which says it all really.

It's a mere 42 degrees outside, though the court is now in shadows, which should help both players get through the game without too many problems.

Both are "warming up", perhaps limbering up is a better phrase, and we should be underway shortly.

6:36 am

Ben Curtis

Right, limbering up complete and we're about to begin.

Hopefully Murray has brought a wardrobe of t-shirts with him - you'd think he'll need it over the next couple of hours.

Soeda serves first.

6:37 am

Neil McLeman

Neil McLeman says evening time ISN'T any better in terms of temperatures.

Murray is now on court knocking up with Japan's Go Soeda.

The temperature actually rises through the day and is hottest now - the coolest it will be is 5am when it will be only 28C - but the court of the Hisense Arena is now in shadow though the roof remains open.

6:42 am

Ben Curtis

Andy Murray 1-1 Go Soeda*:

Soeda begins with a perfect service game, while Murray holds from the other end.

The sun is still beating down on those watching in one of the stands, along with one of the ball boys sitting to the side of the court.

Murray appears to be taking his time, getting into a rhythm and conserving his energy.

6:46 am

Ben Curtis

Murray* 2-1 Soeda:

Excellent start for the British No.1, who comfortably breaks serve to go ahead in the first set.

Plenty of mistakes from Soeda, which he'll need to quickly cut out if he's going to have any chance of beating the fourth seed.

Just what Murray needed.

6:53 am

Ben Curtis

Murray 4-1 Soeda*:

And Murray continues his march towards taking the first set with another break of serve.

It's been just the reintroduction the British No.1 needed into Grand Slam tennis.

Meanwhile, the debate over the Melbourne heat continues.

Martina Navratilova believes it is TOO hot to play.

Dr Tim Wood, who said the heat is not cumulative for the players, is completely clueless. No doubt to me that today it is too hot to play...

As Neil McLeman writes, the sooner this is over, the better for Murray:

Soeda has only ever won three Grand Slam matches in his 10-year career and his early drop of serve showed why. After so long out following his back surgery. Murray will not want to be detained long in this heat.

Looking ahead to the next round, the Wimbledon champion will play the winner of the match between Frenchman Vincent Millot and Wayne Odesnik of the USA.

The American was infamously caught importing human growth hormones into Australia in 2010 and was banned for two years - later reduced to one.

Millot won the first set.

6:58 am

Ben Curtis

Murray 5-1 Soeda*:

A powerful backhand puts Murray 40-30 up - his best shot so far, before he holds serve moments later.

He's just one game from the first set - and we're only 20 minutes in.

Surely it'll only be a few more minutes until it's all wrapped up..

7:03 am

Ben Curtis

Murray 6-1 Soeda

A very comfortable first set for Murray, who will serve first in the second.

His opponent today is 112th in the world, and struggling to gain a foothold in the match.

Perfect start for Murray - and he'll want two more of the same.

7:04 am

Neil McLeman

Here's Neil McLeman's first set wrap, as Murray takes the first game of the second set - his sixth in a row:

The first set took 23 minutes and Murray is getting a perfect first-round workout.

Soeda said before the match that his coach Davide Sanguinetti wants him to be more Italian and expressive on the court. But the Japanese No2 is being simply subdued by Murray who is getting in the mood.

The set was ended by a Soeda double fault.

7:10 am

Ben Curtis

Murray 6-1 3-0 Soeda*

Make that eight games in a row for Murray, who is making very short work of this tie.

The first set was 23 minutes long - and frankly, it may be even shorter this time around.

A powerful forehand puts the Brit 15-0 up in the third game of the set, while a comfortable backhand across court puts him 40-0 ahead.

And he wraps up his ninth game of the row. This has been a breeze in the heat.

7:20 am

Ben Curtis

Murray 6-1 4-1 Soeda*

Soeda wins his first game in 10 with some aggressive play, but that only leads to Murray upping his own strokeplay.

The Brit races into a 40-15 lead, before a long rally ends with Soeda volleying an attempted Murray lob past the Brit to make it 40-30.

But Soeda sends Murray's second serve long to move the Brit closer to a second set triumph.

7:21 am

Neil McLeman

Neil McLeman wipes a bead of sweat from his eye and delivers this update:

As predictable as a hot summer Down Under, Murray is set to be the last Brit standing at a Grand Slam. Eurosport pundit Jo Durie had some interesting comments about Laura Robson and Heather Watson after they both lost in the first round here. Again, there were no other British men playing in the singles here.

The sun has gone behind some clouds here but it is still swelteringly sweaty just sitting in the Hisense Arena - let alone playing. Soeda, who is not a bad player and broke the top 50 in 2012 before suffering a back injury, has finally got on the board in this set.

7:25 am

Ben Curtis

Murray 6-1 6-1 Soeda

Murray powers through another game with a break of serve as he closes in on a second set victory.

No signs of fitness problems from the Brit, despite the heat and his recovery from back surgery.

A comfortable, but very encouraging, display from the fourth seed.

The Brit races into a 40-0 lead in the seventh game of the set and sends an ace past Soeda to go two up.

Superb.

7:28 am

Neil McLeman

Here's Neil McLeman's second set round-up from Melbourne:

Ivan Lendl is sitting with his back to the press seats but I think we can guess the expression on his face.

The former Blank Czech set the trend for working with current stars and now fellow 80s icons Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang have joined him as coaches.

Becker conducted interviews in German and English after his first competitive victory with Novak Djokovic last night. Unfortunately, he is still a Chelsea fan.

Meanwhile, Murray has taken the second set 6-1 in 26 minutes. This is like a training match for the world No 4. The end is nigh.

7:33 am

Ben Curtis

Murray* 6-1 6-1 0-1 Soeda

So comfortable it's been for Murray so far, it's a surprise when he loses a game.

The Brit takes it to deuce, but sends one crashing into the net as Soeda takes first blood in the third set.

The temperature is still above 40 degrees, yet Murray doesn't look particularly troubled - wiping his near-dry face on a towel after each serve.